I'm just posting to post. I know others out there struggle with this too, and I always like the reminders that I'm not alone. So YOU'RE not alone!!

I did Spin Cycle class yesterday, which is killer cardio. Then last night I walked four miles.

And this morning...I gained a pound. Go figure. That's my pattern. I feel crazy spouting across this message board that exercise may just be the reason people are stalling and/or gaining. But that's what I do!!! Honest to goodness, the harder I work, the more that scale just does not cooperate.

But it's about the inches, folks! Who care what the scale says?! And we're all different. We're. each. and. every. one. of. us. different.

And, I ran one mile this morning. I think that's where this crazy mood is coming from. I'm a bit high on endorphins at the moment.

The weight loss from those cardio workouts is not going to show up the very next morning! Look at how far you have come, you are doing so well. I would chop off a finger to be at your weight!

Don't get discouraged. I am sure you will see the results of your hard work in a few days.

This happens to me too sometimes! It makes me so mad and frustrated. I wish I had the nerve to just chuck the scale in the trash.

Way to go on running a mile. I am working up to it. I finished week 3 of the C25K program this morning.

Honestly that's why I haven't started a consistant workout schedule... everytime I workout at all I gain weight the next day. I know it isn't fat but I still can't seem to not get upset by it...

If I don't workout for a little while (even as short as a few days) then the day after my first workout I will often gain, but as I keep adding the consistent workout days onto a thread of them I start seeing the scale go down again.

I have no idea if this actually helps anyone other than her or not, but I was recently told by a girl at my gym that if she does not have dairy of some sort shortly after her workout then the scale is up the next day. She says she just has a small serving of milk, yogurt, or cheese as soon as she's home from working out (she takes it with her if she's not going straight home, which is how we got into the conversation because she was all upset because her milk had leaked a little in her gym bag) and that it stopped all that mess. I haven't tried it so I'm not really endorsing it, but I figure anything (within healthy reason) is worth a shot, so some of you with this issue might try it.

It's all about perspective, isn't it? Thanks for the reminder! I am really very, very happy to be where I am. I can honestly say if I didn't lose another pound, I would be ok right where I am.

Fitgirlygirl, that's funny! I'm glad it works for her. I eat yogurt often after a workout and haven't noticed any kind of correlation. Frankly, I haven't noticed any kind of correlation about anything at all!

Eliana-- you should see my post on the onederland express thread-- I said the exact same thing....

I had an unbelievable workout with my personal trainer last Thursday-- but she pushed me so hard I was sore for four days-- I also have upped my running routine even more and added speed intervals.... I bounced up two and stayed there for almost five days, and then suddenly today, down 3 so I actually posted a loss.

Meanwhile, I noticed that my favorite jeans-- really the only ones that fit any more, a 14W, are getting loose.

But I have defined quads now-- I really have a LOT of muscle. My body is a completely different shape from what it used to be.

Vigorous exercise causes water retention. Sodium causes water retention. Hormones cause water retention. Carbohydrates cause water retention. Sleep deprivation causes water retention. Stress causes water retention. The price of tea in China causes water retention. A butterfly flapping its wings in Africa causes water retention.

(OK those last few might be exaggerating. Maybe.)

You're just retaining water. It'll "pass"

It'll pass, it'll pass. I KNOW this. I'm now extremely educated on the subject! But it still aggravates me just a little every now and then. And I know it aggravates others too, so there it is...

My problem usually stems from jealousy when I find someone who "steadily" loses 1-2 pounds every single week. I am just not one of those people. It makes me feel inferior...even though it shouldn't. Thus, this and many other posts like it from me. Sad, isn't it?

Wait, who? Who does this?? Point 'em out, and we'll run 'em outta town!



I really think it happens to all of us, especially as we get smaller. It certainly happens to me constantly. The best explanation I have seen for it is that (possibly), the cells that are losing fat fill up with water instead (maybe as part of the exchange process), and retain that water for a while--even weeks. Then eventually, they will release the water in a whoosh, and down the scale goes.

In an attempt to hold onto sanity over this issue, I also watch the body fat percentage number on my scale. When my weight goes up but the BF% goes down, then I know I am retaining some water, which will soon come off.